US3894767A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pivotable and retractable sliding roof for automobiles
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-09-14
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Granted: 1975-07-15
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Expires: 1993-09-14
Abstract
Abstract A sliding roof assembly for automobiles where the sliding roof panel is operable either by upward pivoting or by downward pivoting followed by retraction under the stationary roof portion, the motion being transmitted to the panel by a cross member over pivoting linkages, and where a rain channel is arranged under the rear edge of the opening and remains in place during the pivoting motions, but which is retracted in unison with the sliding roof panel when the latter is retracted.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter Schatzler
- 👤 Alfons Lutz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 15:07
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60J; B60J7/00; B60J7/02; B60J7/04; B60J7/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
A sliding roof assembly for automobiles, where a generally rectangular movable sliding roof panel is operable in a first opening mode in which its rear end is pivoted upwardly out of a roof opening and in a second opening mode in which its rear end is pivoted downwardly out of the roof opening and the downwardly pivoted sliding roof panel is retracted rearwardly underneath a stationary roof portion, while the front end of the panel and a cross member by which said motions are imparted to the sliding roof panel from a drive means are guided along stationary longitudinal guides, and the pivoting motions of the panel are obtained by pivoting linkages connecting the cross member to the rear portion of the sliding roof panel, and wherein the improvement comprises: a transversely extending rain channel separate from the roof panel and arranged below the roof level, the rain channel being guided for longitudinal motion between a forward position underneath the rear edge of the roof opening and a retracted position which corresponds to the retraction displacement of the sliding roof panel in said second opening mode, the rain channel being further longitudinally movable relative to said cross member; and means for retracting and advancing the rain channel in unison with the retracting motion of the sliding roof panel in said second opening mode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
A sliding roof assembly for automobiles, where a generally rectangular movable sliding roof panel is operable in a first opening mode in which its rear end is pivoted upwardly out of a roof opening and in a second opening mode in which its rear end is pivoted downwardly out of the roof opening and the downwardly pivoted sliding roof panel is retracted rearwardly underneath a stationary roof portion, while the front end of the panel and a cross member by which said motions are imparted to the sliding roof panel from a drive means are guided along stationary longitudinal guides, and the pivoting motions of the panel are obtained by pivoting linkages connecting the cross member to the rear portion of the sliding roof panel, and wherein the improvement comprises: a transversely extending rain channel separate from the roof panel and arranged below the roof level, the rain channel being guided for longitudinal motion between a forward position underneath the rear edge of the roof opening and a retracted position which corresponds to the retraction displacement of the sliding roof panel in said second opening mode, the rain channel being further longitudinally movable relative to said cross member; and means for retracting and advancing the rain channel in unison with the retracting motion of the sliding roof panel in said second opening mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A sliding roof assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein: the rain channel is movable along the stationary longitudinal guides for the cross member, the latter being arranged to the rear of the rain channel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
A sliding roof aSsembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the improvements further conclude: means for abutting the rain channel in the forward direction, when it is in its forward position; and means for releasably retaining the rain channel in its forward position during the upward pivoting motion of the sliding roof panel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
A sliding roof assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein: the rain channel retracting and advancing means includes a means for engaging the rain channel with the rear edge of the sliding roof panel, when the latter is pivoted downwardly in the second opening mode, whereby any subsequent retracting and advancing motions of the lowered sliding roof panel are also imparted to the rain channel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
A sliding roof assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein: the engaging means includes a downwardly oriented ledge on the rear edge of the sliding roof panel and at least one matchingly shaped connecting brace extending across the profile of the rain channel, the ledge of the panel, when lowered into the connecting brace, providing a connection between the panel and the rain channel so that the latter moves with the former.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A sliding roof assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein: the ledge on the rear edge of the sliding roof panel includes a rubber member which also serves as a seal against the stationary roof portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
76 words
A sliding roof assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein: the rain channel is movable in substantially the same plane as the cross member, the latter being arranged to the rear of the former; and the cross member includes at each lateral end a forwardly extending guide arm reaching forward of the rain channel, an end of each pivoting linkage being connected to one of the guide arms at a point forward of the rain channel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
77 words
A sliding roof assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein: the rain channel retracting and advancing means includes connecting means between the rain channel and the cross member for the accomodation of an advancing motion of the cross member relative to the forwardly abutted rain channel during the upward opening motion of the sliding roof panel and for the entrainment of the rain channel in unison with the cross member during the panel retracting and advancing motions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
A sliding roof assembly as defined in claim 8, wherein: the connecting means includes a longitudinal slot in each guide arm and a pin attached to each lateral end portion of the rain channel so as to engage the slot; and the rain channel retaining means includes a spring which urges the cross member away from the rain channel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
A sliding roof assembly as defined in claim 8, wherein: the connecting means includes at least one connecting rod and cooperating compression spring between the rain channel and the cross member, the connecting rod having at least one collar limiting the maximum spacing between the rain channel and cross member, while permitting a relative approaching motion against the compression spring.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
A sliding roof assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein: the rain channel includes guide means in the form of at least two positioning blocks engaging the stationary longitudinal guides for the cross member; and the rain channel abutting means cooperates with said positioning blocks.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
A sliding roof assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein: the rain channel retaining means includes a resilient detent finger as part of each positioning block and a stationary boss for each detent finger cooperating with the latter to retain the rain channel in its forward position until a predetermined retracting force applied to the rain channel overcomes the action of the detent fingers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2550323A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-14 | 1979-01-13 | 1979-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-14 | 1983-01-13 | 1983-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-14 | 1987-01-13 | 1987-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |